Roman Genn

Roman Genn, an artist from South Pasadena, is sketching the convention for The Times. His impression of this scene from Monday's session: "The host committee here is doing a much better job of massaging the media. The Republicans in Philadelphia gave out Tastykakes, but here they're literally massaging them. I tried to get a back rub, but they were booked up a day in advance."

MOSCOW-BORN, Los Angeles-based artist Roman Genn has come a long way from drawing Communist propaganda cartoons as child. His incisive caricatures have appeared in magazines and newspapers across the country, often generating controversy with what he's called the "ethnic grievance industry." Now the libertarian-leaning artist has created a series of paintings of political figures from the past and is working on a group of portraits of U.S.

February 11, 1993 | RICK VANDERKNYFF, Rick VanderKnyff is a free-lance writer who regularly
contributes to The Times Orange County Edition.

Two years ago, Roman Genn was hawking his comic renderings of Soviet political figures on the streets of Moscow. Today, his caricatures of such American faces as Bill Clinton, George Bush and Magic Johnson regularly grace the letters-to-the-editor column of the Los Angeles Times. Genn's odyssey between those two points is a tale marked by both video-age good luck and old-fashioned perseverance. Examples of his work, starting with his days in the then-Soviet Union, are on display through Feb.

Roman Genn, an artist from South Pasadena, is sketching the convention for The Times. His impression of this scene from Tuesday's session: "Oliver North was in the media area doing his radio show and basically raving. Except for what he's saying, he fits right in there. If you didn't know of him, you wouldn't pick him out from the others. I think a lot of people have forgotten who he is--or never knew."

MOSCOW-BORN, Los Angeles-based artist Roman Genn has come a long way from drawing Communist propaganda cartoons as child. His incisive caricatures have appeared in magazines and newspapers across the country, often generating controversy with what he's called the "ethnic grievance industry." Now the libertarian-leaning artist has created a series of paintings of political figures from the past and is working on a group of portraits of U.S.

The trial of music producer Phil Spector, right, will be televised, along with his hair, raising the obvious question: What hairstyles might Spector's jury consultants recommend? Political cartoonist Roman Genn offers three looks. The North Kohawk Likely to appeal to potential jurors with a fetish for Western movies, platform shoes and plutonium The Lost-the-Buzz cut Could win sympathy from washed-up, teen pop divas in and out of rehab in search of a new look The Trump-over Appealing to real estate megalomaniac wannabes.

Your editorial on the need to address growing bank ATM fees ("Talking Back to the ATMs," July 29) was on point. Congressional action is certainly called for. But readers should know that state legislation to require on-screen ATM fee disclosure has already been enacted. My bill, AB 3366, signed into law last month, requires banks to disclose ATM fees on screen, and allows customers to back out of transactions without charge. Californians should know that, regardless of federal action, beginning July 1 of next year, they will receive on-screen notification of ATM fees at bank ATMs.

Why all the upset about editorial cartoons on the front of the Opinion section? Roman Genn's clever piece of satire (Jan. 30) reminds us that words alone, no matter how honestly written, forceful or eloquent, have done little to affect American opinion on the crucial issues of our times, as evidenced by George W. Bush's reelection and the seemingly relentless march of his incredibly incompetent presidency. (The only thing missing in Genn's piece was Condoleezza Rice being slapped upside the head by Barbara Boxer.

Re "Ezell Unveils Initiative for State-Issued Identity Cards," Jan. 10: We Americans are a goofy, fun-loving bunch. We can't resist high-minded, symbolic quests, as long as they don't get anywhere. The entertaining, former border patrol generalissimo, Harold Ezell, Proposition 187 proponent, now wants a ballot measure to require the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue "tamper-proof" licenses and identity cards. This is supposed to effectively combat illegal immigration. There will be much gnashing of teeth over this, civil libertarians on both the right and left hate the idea, fearing a police state.

Re "the Bottom Dollar," Aug. 22: I am really tired of listening to the cries coming from the "small business" community concerning the newly enacted minimum wage law. I read in the papers about two such people. One owned four Burger King restaurants in the San Fernando Valley and the other owned two car washes. Both were worried that their businesses will be adversely affected and one commented that his bottom line will become very marginal. I would suggest that anyone concerned about these two gentlemen should look in the business opportunity section of this paper or any other to see that these types of businesses are selling anywhere from $100,000 to $500,000.

February 11, 1993 | RICK VANDERKNYFF, Rick VanderKnyff is a free-lance writer who regularly
contributes to The Times Orange County Edition.

Two years ago, Roman Genn was hawking his comic renderings of Soviet political figures on the streets of Moscow. Today, his caricatures of such American faces as Bill Clinton, George Bush and Magic Johnson regularly grace the letters-to-the-editor column of the Los Angeles Times. Genn's odyssey between those two points is a tale marked by both video-age good luck and old-fashioned perseverance. Examples of his work, starting with his days in the then-Soviet Union, are on display through Feb.